Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne. All rights belong to Bandai and co. My writing is not for profit but for pleasure and any similarities with other fanfics are not intentional.
Everlasting Love
By Sincerity
2
The Ziabach soldiers stared at Van with various degrees of surprise. They had not expected to find the king of Fanelia much less did they expect to find him conversing with the Strategos himself! For a stunned moment no one spoke and Folken, already analyzing the situation, recognized the soldiers as a Ziabach retrieval team. He surmised their place of service by the uniforms they wore and realized that they were searching for survivors from the Vione. They had followed the tracking device on Eryia's guymelef and Folken brutally chastised himself for not thinking of this scenario before-hand. But even as he did, he realized that Van's hesitation gave him the perfect opportunity to disarm the situation.
In swift motion he yanked his sword out from its sheath and pressed the tip to the soft flesh of Van's neck.
" No! Don't hurt him!" Hitomi pleaded.
A tall man, who seemed to be of higher status than the others, silenced her with a backhanded slap. She staggered and nearly lost her balance all together!
" NO!" Van cried.
The sword pressed harder against his neck and he flinched with gritted teeth. Folken looked at the man leering over Hitomi and pinned him with an angry glare.
" Captain! Do not harm the young woman again!"
The man's face went bright red and he straightened his uniform with a sharp tug. Hitomi rubbed her burning cheek and did what she could to regain some composure. She shot him a nervous glance uncertain of whether he was blushing or fuming.
" Are you alright?" Folken asked with genuine concern.
Hitomi nodded and quietly took a few steps back. The captain commanded an order with a sharp jerk of his hand and several soldiers quickly relieved Van of his sword. They proceeded to pat him down, apparently searching for any hidden weapons before stepping away. The sword traveled from soldier to captain and, after a brief moment of study, was finally given to Folken.
Van glared at a soldier who was busy binding his hands behind his back while Folken shrugged on his shirt. Hitomi tearfully watched the proceedings and coward against a rocky wall when a soldier finally approached her. He uncoiled a short length of rope and moved to take her wrist but Folken interceded and took the rope from him. He motioned for the man to return to the ship and paused to regard her gleaming eyes.
" I'm sorry…but it's your turn now."
Folken turned her around and crossed her wrists behind her back She was surprised at his gentle touch and glanced over at Van who was staring at him with a hateful gaze.
" Why don't you let her go? You have me now."
Folken kept silent as he quickly finished and rested his good hand on Hitomi's shoulder. She wasn't sure if he had meant to do it, but the rope was loose! It wouldn't take her very long to release herself of her binds! Folken called the captain over and gave out orders for Escaflowne to be found and confiscated.
" What do you plan to do, Folken? Destroy Escaflowne and murder more innocent people?" Van seethed.
" Take him to the holding cell." Folken replied completely ignoring Van's struggling form as he was ushered past. Hitomi gulped and looked up. Folken's face held the most sincere expression of regret she had ever seen!
" Folken?"
At the sound of her voice his expression quickly switched to one of impassiveness and he firmly steered her towards the retrieval ship. He didn't slow his pace or offer any apologies as they boarded. He didn't even look back after nudging her into a holding cell where Van, pacing its length, demanded a duel to the death.
After Folken's departure Hitomi began struggling with her rope. Van stared at the doorway in which his brother had exited and released a weary sigh.
" And to think I was ready to trust him!"
Hitomi looked up at Van as he hit his forehead against a metal bar in utter frustration.
" This is all my fault." He muttered forlornly.
Hitomi gaped at him in utter astonishment.
" That's not true and you know it! You were doing the right thing when you decided to give Folken a chance."
" But where did that get us, Hitomi?" Van turned around and leaned against the bars. " We were safe inside Austuria's borders. Now we're prisoners of war!" He paused to take in a deep breath and released a longer, heavier sigh. " We didn't even tell anyone where we were going." he muttered and slid onto the floor with a defeated plop.
Hitomi felt her stomach knot. He was right! If Folken had planned to lure them into a trap then he succeeded. No one would be looking for them until tomorrow's counsel meeting where they were supposed to aid in battle plans. The whole war would end before it even had a chance to start!
Fearing hyperventilation, Hitomi decided to follow Van's example and pressed her forehead against a cell bar. After taking a few deep breaths she opened her eyes and suddenly noticed the keys dangling on a nail by the prison door! She bit her lip with renewed determination and worked at the rope around her hands again. This time she succeeded in loosening the knot enough to slip one hand and then the other free!
" Got it!" she exclaimed and startled Van out of his thoughts.
" What?"
Hitomi helped him get to his feet and began working on his binds.
" How did you get free?" he asked with wonder.
" The rope wasn't tight enough around my wrists."
" I guess Folken's deformity comes in handy after all." he smirked.
" Van…I think Folken tied the rope loosely on purpose."
Van looked back at her with a deep frown. " You can't be serious!"
" Oh yes I am! Now listen. I have an idea for getting out but I'm gonna need your help."
Van nodded and tried to wiggle a hand free.
" Stop that! I almost have you out."
" Sorry." he replied with a blush. " So….what's the plan?"
Hitomi tugged down hard on his stubborn knot and smiled. " Okay. Pull your right hand up."
Van complied and grinned as his hand pulled free.
" I'm going to get the keys."
" What keys?" Van asked and looked at her with confusion. It was an endearing expression that Hitomi found hard to ignore.
" Those keys!" she replied with a smile and pointed to a dangling key ring hanging by the door.
" But Hitomi they're on the other side of the room! We can't reach them from here."
" Thanks for stating the obvious." she muttered and moved to stand parallel to the keys. " I'm thinking of using the pendant to help me move them closer to us."
Van stared at her in surprise. " You can…do that?"
Hitomi shrugged. " I don't know. I don't think I've ever tried before. But if I can find people and things with the pendant's help then maybe I can bring them to me too."
Van smiled at her determination and nodded his approval. But suddenly an uncertain frown darkened his expression. " How am I suppose to help you?"
" When the keys get close enough I want you to reach out and grab them. I don't think I can bring them and grab them at the same time."
After taking a deep breath Hitomi held the pendant within her hands, and closed her eyes.
" Here I go." she whispered.
For several moments nothing happened. Van glanced from Hitomi to the keys and back again. There was no change. He shifted his stance and crossed his arms in an effort to tamp down his negative thoughts. And just as he was ready to suggest they try something else he looked back at the keys and released an excited yelp! Startled, Hitomi snapped her eyes open.
" What's wrong?"
" Nothing! The keys started to glow! I think it will work Hitomi! Try again."
Encouraged, she complied. Hitomi did all she could to remain focused and Van smiled as the keys began to glow again! After a few moments the key ring lifted up off the nail and began to hover towards the holding cell as if they were slowly sliding down an invisible string. Van pressed himself against the bars, stretched out his hand, and waited. His fingertips were only inches away when the whole ship suddenly shuddered and startled Hitomi out of focus again!
" What's happening?" she asked as the keys fell to the floor with a clatter.
" Uh! I almost had them!" Van complained as another shudder rumbled through the ship and rattled the bars of their cell. " I think the ship is taking off!" he exclaimed.
" That means they're taking us to Ziabach!"
" It also means they have Escaflowne."
Hitomi paled.
" Van! Do you think they'll try to destroy it again?"
The thought had never entered Van's mind and Hitomi could clearly tell by the fading color in his face.
" Where are the keys?" she asked as her eyes scanned the floor. " Get ready! I'm going to try again!" Just as before the keys began to glow but suddenly she gasped and fell to her knees!
" Hitomi! What's wrong?" Van knelt beside her and lightly rested a hand on her back.
" My head…it hurts." she explained and brought her hands up to her temples.
" Don't worry. We'll find another way to get out."
" No! We don't have time to waste! I can do this…just…give me a few moments."
" I don't want you to hurt yourself Hitomi!" Van replied as he laid his hands on her shoulders so that he saw squarely into her eyes. Hitomi bowed her head in resignation and allowed him to pull her into an embrace. He held her protectively and frowned at the keys that still rested where they fell as if her pain were their fault. But suddenly he was struck with a thought!
" I have an idea!" he exclaimed and quickly worked at unhooking his belt.
" What are you going to do?" Hitomi asked as he pulled it through the belt loops.
" I think I can use my belt to reach the keys and slide them over here."
Hitomi watched Van loop his belt and wondered why she hadn't thought of that before. He stretched out on the floor, reached past the bars, and tried to encircle the key ring only to miss by centimeters! On the second try he nearly succeeded when the sound of footsteps reached their ears.
" Van!"
" I know! I know!"
" Hurry!"
With a desperate swipe the keys were caught and dragged close enough for him to grab.
" Here!" He tossed them to Hitomi. She looked up at the open doorway with worry while he hurried to re-buckle his belt.
" Van, where should we hide them? We still have to put our ropes back on!"
" No time! Give me the keys!"
" What? No, Van we need to hide the-"
" Just trust me!"
Hitomi shut her mouth and passed him the keys. She watched with frayed nerves as he tried to unlock the cell door. The first key didn't work and there were three more left to try! Van chose the second key, which yielded him no results, and fumbled with the third.
" Careful Van!" Hitomi gasped as he nearly dropped the key ring all together. Van cursed under his breath and was about to try the third key again when Hitomi snatched them from him.
" Hey! What are you-"
" It's the last one." She corrected and handed the right key to him.
Van gave it a try and nearly fell out of the cell when its door swung open!
" How did you know…"
" The pendant." Hitomi explained. " It showed me."
Van gave her a sheepish grin and hurried to hide behind the prison door as he motioned for her to stay in the cell. She looked at him with confusion but pulled her cell door shut anyway. At the sound of its clang the footsteps suddenly paused and Van tensed. There was a moment of oppressive silence before the footsteps finally reached the doorway. Hitomi blinked in surprise.
" No! Van wait!"
But her warning came too late and Van slammed the metal door against his victim once-twice-three times! Hitomi gasped and covered her mouth with shaking hands. When Van finally pulled the door back, Folken quietly slid to the floor in an ungraceful and unconscious heap.
" Van! His nose…it's bleeding!"
" Yeah. I think I broke it." he smirked and squatted down to get a better look.
" Serves you right, traitor."
Van suddenly noticed his sword lying on the floor. It protruded from under his brother's slumped form.
" And this is mine." he continued and shoved Folken aside to pick it up. Hitomi gazed at Folken's unconscious form with concern as Van hurried to unlock her cell.
" What are we going to do?" she asked and knelt beside Zaibach's defunct Stretegos.
" Leave him."
" But we can't just leave him here!"
" We're not going to leave him here. We're going to leave him there."
Hitomi looked up at Van and followed his pointed finger to the cell.
" That way he won't be able to tell anyone that we've escaped." Van explained as he slipped his arms under Folken and tugged. " By the time he's discovered…uh!…we'll be…on our way back to Austuria."
Hitomi held the cell door open as Van roughly deposited his brother onto the cold floor. He quickly shut the cell and after a moment of silent deliberation decided to take the keys with him. Hitomi stared with shimmering eyes, unable to shake off her guilt at leaving Folken in such a predicament! Van took her hand and headed for the door.
" Are you sure this is the right thing to do, Van?" she asked with uncertainty. Van peered at her over his shoulder before sneaking out into the hallway.
" If it isn't, then things wouldn't have worked out so well."
Hitomi wished she had the same confidence Van harbored. But the memory of Folken's words kept echoing in her mind.
" I want you to trust me."
As they quietly walked to a sharp corner they heard voices. Several men were coming their way and there was nowhere to hide!
" We have to go back!" Hitomi whispered frantically.
" No way!"
" But Van they'll kill us if they think we're trying to escape!"
" We are trying to escape! Besides, now that I have my sword I can defend us."
Van motioned for her to lean against the wall as he quietly unsheathed his sword. Hitomi's wide-eyed gaze traveled up its length to the tip. Van slowly knelt and used the flat of his blade to see around the corner. The reflection showed two to three soldiers preoccupied in pleasant conversation, none of which suspected they were being watched. Hitomi gulped and looked back down the hall from where they came. If Folken woke up and called out for help she and Van would be caught for certain!
" Good news." Van whispered to her.
" What do you mean?"
" The soldiers went into another room just around the corner."
He smiled at her and chanced taking a peek.
" All clear. Let's go!"
They hurried past what sounded to Hitomi like a small cafeteria and headed for another corner. Van used the same trick to check for enemies and decided to turn right. As they came to the third corner Hitomi glanced back, all her senses on alert. Van turned to her and grinned.
" Relax! We haven't run into any trouble yet."
But the words had no sooner left his mouth when a soldier suddenly appeared from around the previous corner and spotted them!
" Hey! You two!"
Van and Hitomi jumped in surprise and bolted down the hall!
" The prisoners are escaping!" Yelled another guard from somewhere behind them.
Running around a corner Van and Hitomi paused at a dead end. They're only hope was to go through a set of double doors.
Together they yanked and pulled.
" They're locked!" Van shouted in frustration.
Hitomi paused for a second and decided to push instead. Her door swung open with a metallic creak. Van hurried past her hoping she didn't notice his embarrassment and pulled her in after him. He slammed the door shut and they were swallowed by darkness.
" Where are we?" Hitomi whispered as Van found her hand and pulled her behind something tall, wooden, and square.
" I think we might be in the cargo hold."
They squatted down and held their breaths as several soldiers entered. There was a metallic clicking sound and suddenly the whole room flooded with light!
" Yep. It's the cargo hold."
Van quickly peeked around a crate.
" I count five…they're fanning out." he whispered. Hitomi gulped and tried to stay calm. Van squeezed her hand. " You alright?" she nodded, hoping he couldn't tell how much her legs were shaking. " We have to move. Follow me."
Hitomi did her best to keep close as he dodged from one crate to the next. The soldiers were closing in! Once found there would be no mercy and worst of all Folken wouldn't be present to protect them. They reached the last of the cargo crates and hid. There was nowhere else to go. But just as things seemed hopeless Hitomi spotted a door on the wall behind them, just a few feet away!
She tapped Van on the shoulder and pointed. He followed her gaze and nodded in agreement. They would be taking a risk either way, but there were more chances of escape if the door led back to the hallway.
Van began a count down with his fingers: 3—2—1…and with a deep breath they sprinted for the exit as fast and quietly as possible! But when they reached the door it wouldn't open!
" Oh no!" Hitomi gasped and turned around to see the soldiers still searching for them among the cargo.
" Did you push?" Van whispered.
" Its no use!" Hitomi replied anxiously. Van began to feel the door's surface for any kind of lock. Maybe a button or hidden lever.
" How does this stupid door open!" he muttered with mounting aggravation.
Hitomi looked down.
" Van! It's locked at the bottom! See? The latch goes straight into the floor."
She knelt down quickly and did her best to unlatch the lock. Meanwhile Van spotted another latch at the top of the door and frowned.
" Who puts locks into the floors and ceilings?"
Hitomi looked up and motioned for him to lift her.
Van was quick to catch on and in a few moments Hitomi had unlocked the door. But as she was being lowered a soldier finally spotted them!
" There they are! Over here!"
With a mighty yank Van swung the door open and hurried Hitomi out. She turned around just in time to see him try to shut the door and fail! The soldier that spotted them had rushed with his sword drawn and managed to thrust the blade between the door and its frame. Hitomi backed up with a gasp and watched as a struggle began.
" Quick! Go around! They're in the docking bay!" the soldier shouted over his shoulder.
" Van!" Hitomi cried in alarm and grabbed her pendant.
" Ugh! Run Hitomi! Run!"
But Hitomi didn't listen. Her eyes were closed and she was focused. The pendant glowed and Van's eyes widened when the soldier's sword began to bend and twist on its own! But before he could articulate surprise the sword snapped in half and the door shut fast.
Hurrying to her side Van rested a hand on her shoulder and for a brief moment she thought he might kiss her. But his eyes wandered from her face to stare at something in the distance. He moved quickly and Hitomi turned around to see Escaflowne, still in dragon form, resting on the docking bay floor. Van was quick to cover the distance. He rested a hand on its side with a small smile of relief. But then he turned to look back at Hitomi with a worried frown.
" What is it?" Hitomi asked.
" We need to open the bay! It's the only way to escape with Escaflowne." Van headed for the far wall opposite the cargo door. " Look over there." He commanded and pointed to a wall on the left. Hitomi nodded and had only taken one step when a door at the far right opened.
" Stop right there!"
She froze and looked over her shoulder to see soldiers entering with crossbows! Van frowned at them with annoyance and pulled down hard on a lever. The docking bay began to yawn wide open and he smiled despite himself as he ran to Hitomi's side. The wind whipped at their hair and gave the soldiers a brief but very revealing glimpse under her skirt.
Mortified, Hitomi yanked it down as her face turned bright crimson. Van began to pull her towards Escaflowne and after realizing they weren't getting anywhere fast turned to her with frustration.
" Come on Hitomi! Why aren't you run-?"
It was then that he realized her dilemma.
" Oh."
The soldiers broke into a run.
" Van! What are you doing!"
He scooped Hitomi into his arms and raced back to Escaflowne as something whizzed past their heads.
" They're shooting at us!" she screamed.
Setting her down Van grabbed her wrist and pulled her under and around Escaflowne's belly. The solution only provided temporary safety.
" What are we going to do?" she asked and yelped in alarm when an arrow narrowly missed her leg. " We can't stay here!"
Van glanced over at the open bay and smiled.
" We'regoing to escape but Escaflowne will have to stay."
" What? Leave Escaflowne? But--but"
" There's no other way! If we stay Zaibach wins for certain. Don't worry. We'll be fine. I'm going to use my wings to carry you."
" But they'll still have Escaflowne!" she argued.
Van motioned for her to stay put and snuck around towards the front. As he did she suddenly understood what he was doing. The energist! Without it Escaflowne was useless! She was about to compliment him when a swift movement caught her eye. One of the soldiers had managed to cross the distance between the bay entrance and Escaflowne when they weren't looking! He was sneaking up on Van! Hitomi closed her eyes and grabbed her pendant.
Sensing someone else's presence Van glanced over his shoulder and jerked in surprise. The man behind him was about to shoot when he suddenly stared in shock at his crossbow. It was heating up and he had no choice but to drop it! Van was quick to punch him in the face. The soldier was taken off guard and collapsed with a satisfying thump. Van looked over at Hitomi, the beginnings of a smile lighting his face. But his joy was short-lived when a rough hand grabbed her shoulder.
" Let her go!" Van shouted.
The captain ignored him as he roughly yanked Hitomi out from Escaflowne's protection. No amount of squirming or wiggling could loosen his hold as he carried her away. He had ran the entire distance from Escaflowne to the very end of the platform before it was clear what he had in mind. Hitomi struggled against him again but it was no use, he was too strong and pushed her over the edge.
" No! HITOMI!" Van screamed in horror.
Instinct took over and he threw the energist with all his might! It hit the captain square in the head and stunned him long enough for Hitomi to grab hold of a metal railing as she fell.
" Van! Help!"
" Hang on Hitomi!" he hollered while dodging flying arrows from the soldiers that resumed target practice.
The captain looked up at him with a dark smile. From her vantage point Hitomi saw what Van could not. The captain was pulling out a dagger hidden within a pocket of his left pant thigh!
And as she opened her mouth to warn Van the captain stomped down on her hands so hard that she lost hold of the railing! But as she began to fall she noticed a metal support beam and made a desperate grab for it.
" You bastard!" Van spat as he whipped out his sword and attacked with a savage swipe.
The captain darted to the side and whirled around intent on driving his dagger straight into Van's back. But in his mind's eye Van saw the pendant swing. He ducked and kicked his leg out. The captain wasn't ready and fell flat on his back with an impact that jarred loose his hold on the dagger. It skidded to the edge and teetered for a moment before falling off.
Hitomi gasped as it breezed by her head and disappeared into the clouds. The sounds of an aggressive struggle echoed in the air as she gingerly grasped the edge of the platform. Van and the captain were wrestling over the Fanelian sword!
So with all the might she could muster Hitomi grabbed hold of the nearest thing she could reach: the captain's pant leg. He felt a sudden pull and had to shift his weight to shake her off. Van saw an advantage and shoved him off balance. But as the captain fell Van suddenly cried out in pain and dropped his sword! A soldier in the bay had finally made good aim and hit him! Hitomi saw a spray of blood bloom from his temple just as the captain collided with her on his way down. There wasn't enough time to react and she suddenly felt the ridiculous sensation of weightlessness!
For several moments the world spun in an uncontrolled rush of wind and sky. But somewhere during her tumbling she saw Van falling and the bay platform shrinking into the sun. And just as she believed the end had come Hitomi was momentarily blinded by a gleaming flash of metal!